ARRS GP numbers continue to rise

We look at the monthly primary care workforce figures from March, which report on the National Workforce Reporting Service (NWRS) submissions to give a picture of additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) PCN staff across England.

The number of GPs employed by primary care networks (PCN) has risen for the 17th month in a row.

The latest NHS England primary care network workforce figures show that the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs at PCNs has increased 2% from 1,079 in February to 1,099 in March.

When GPs were added to the ARRS in October 2024, there were 85 FTE GPs employed by PCNs and numbers have continued to increase every month since then. 

Changes to the 2026/27 GP contract mean that from the beginning of this month PCNs can hire experienced family doctors through ARRS, not just newly qualified ones.

The new contract DES said that to support the recruitment of GPs, the maximum reimbursement amount that PCNs can claim will rise from £82,418 in 2025/26 to £118,759 in 2026/27 and to £120,921 for GPs in London.

The data also shows that the number of physician associates (PA) employed by PCNs has fallen for the twentieth consecutive month to 991 in March. This is 132 (12%) fewer FTE PAs compared to March 2025, when there were 1,123.

Pulse PCN reported last month that the number of PAs at PCNs had dropped to its lowest level in three years in February.

The trade union representing PAs, United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs), has said the continued decline in physician associate (PA) numbers is evidence of the ‘managed dismantling’ of a workforce that provides millions of appointments in primary care.

And a survey revealed in January that more than three quarters of PAs (76%) reported their scope of practice has been restricted since the publication of the Leng Review.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) accepted all recommendations in the Leng Review and is now consulting on amending the law to change the name to physician assistants.

GP numbers rise again

Separate figures that are based on ARRS claims data rather than the NWRS show that there were 3,580 GPs by headcount claimed through the scheme between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2026.

The FTE figure at the end of February 2026 was 1,593.

However, NHS England said the figures for GPs hired through ARRS are subject to a data lag due to the short time period between the month end and the date of data extraction, meaning the figures are provisional and could change in the future.

Pulse PCN also reports on the quarterly primary care workforce figures, which alongside the NWRS submissions includes ARRS claims data, to keep a track on the number of ARRS PCN staff in England.

All figures in the table are full-time equivalent.

*While all the above roles from the primary care network workforce statistics are reimbursable under ARRS, NHS England has not confirmed whether the FTE numbers have been claimed for under the scheme.